Valve



Patented Nov. 30, 1943 VALVE Earnest Dillman, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application June 10, 1940, Serial No. 339,610

(Cl. 23S- 92) 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to Valves and more particularly toa valve for controlling the ilow of a, cooling medium in a refrigerating system.

An object of this invention is vto provide ar ow controlling means for allowing iiow of a cooling medium upon occurrence of a predetermined vhigh. temperature ofthe refrigerant discharged from the compressor. y

Another object is to provide a power means having a rapid response to temperature change at the desired predetermined high temperature for controlling the iiow controlling means.

Another object is to provide a means for main'- taining the flow of water constant irrespective of fluctuation; of supply pressure.

Another object is to provide a means for regulating the ow of water in response to outlet pressure thereby to maintain the flowfof water constant.

Another object is to provkide a single valve structure to accomplish the regulation of the ilow according to the predetermined high temperature and also to maintain the flow of the cooling medium constant. l

The invention consists in the improved conend portion, an enlarged portion I4 which is of substantially the same diameter as the bore portions 6 and 8 and has at its upper end an outwardly tapered portion I5. The cap member 3 comprises a polygonal portion I6, a portion l'I of circular cross-section and of adiameter substantially that of the bore portion Il, a portion I8 of .circular cross-section and of a diameter somewhat larger than that of the bore portion I0, and

a portion I9 which has a diameter substantially equal to that of the bore `ortion 9. The portion Iii is externally thread d and the bore portion I Il is internally threaded so that the cap member 3 may be screw-threadedly secured to the struction and'combination of parts, to be more s fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken-as part of this specication, a preferred embodiment of this invention is fully and clearly illustrated, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is aview in central vertical section of the valve means;

Fig. 2 is a partial schematic view of a refrig- I erating system showing the valve means installed therein, and y I Fig. 3 is al partialview substantially along the line 3-'3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of thel arrows and with the spring removed.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the numeral I designates generally a valve means comprisingv a body member 2 and upper: and lower cap members v3 and 4, respectively. The body member 2 has a longitudinal central bore Scomprising a plurality of bore portions 5, 7, 8, 9, I0 and The portionv 1 is 0f the smallest' diameter and is interposed between portions 6 andv8 which are of approximately equal diameter and portions 9, I0 and II have progresm*svely larger diameters. 'I'he cap member 3 hasl a longitudinal central bore "I3 which is concentric with bore 5. The bore' I3 has, at its lower body member 2. Packing material 20 vis placed intermediatea shoulder formed by the intersection of portions I6 and Il and the upper end wall of member 2, adjacent the bore portion II.

Packing material 2|: is placed intermediate a outlet port 22 within a boss 23 and an internallyv threaded inlet port 24 within a boss 25. The outlet port 22 is communicatively connected to the interior of the bore portion 6 by means of a iiow restricting orifice 26.' The inlet port 24 is connected by means of a passageway 2l to an annular recess 28 formed by the bore portion II of bodyv member 2 and portion I8 of the cap member 3. A plurality of radially extending passageways 29 connect the annular recess 28 to the central bore I3 of cap member 3. The opening of the normal diameter portion of the borel I3 into the enlarged portion I4 forms a. valve or inlet port 3| leading into a chamber 32 formed by the bore portions 8, 9 and I4. An outlet valve port 32a ofthe chamber 32 is formed Aby the opening ofthe bore portion 'I into the bore portion 8.

Positioned within the chamber 32 and having a stem portion 33 extendingiinto and guided by the bore I3 is a valve member 34 havinga conical seating surface Awhich cooperates with the inlet port 3| to control iioWof iluid into the chamber 32. The stem porti-on 33 has a reduced diameter portion which cooperates with thewall of bore I3 to form a ow passageway from the radially extending passageways 29 to the chamber 32.

to give additional bearing surface and having its side edge portions, which form chords with the walls of chamber 32, cooperating to form low passageways for the iow of fluid past the valve member 3ft. The valve member S4 has a projecting portion 36, circular in cross-section, which forms a guide about which is positionedvone end of a helical coil compression spring 31. The

spring 31 extends longitudinally of the chamberv 32 and has its lower end portion abutting a valve member 38. The valve member 33 is similar to the valve member 34 in thatit has a guide or i projecting portion 39, a rectangular portion 4b,

a conical seating surface for controlling now of iluid'through outlet port 32a, and a stem portion- 4I which extends through the bore portion 'E and into bore portion 3. The stem portion' lli is not, however, guided by either of the bore portions 3 or 1. The springl 31, which has one end abutting the valve member 3d and its other end abutting the valve member 3S, is under compression and exerts a force tending to urge both the valve members 34 and 38 against their respective ports to stop ow of fluid into and out of the` portion 42 and 43 and is held in huid-tight relation by the compressive force exerted due to the screwing of the cap member 4 to the body member 2. If desired, an annular ring member d3 may be positioned between the diaphragm 45 and cap member 4 so that the rotational movement of member 4, when it is being screwed to 1 the body member 2, will not cause thediaphragm 45 to be ruptured. The lower cap member 4 has a. recess therein forming a chamber 41 which opens toward thediaphragm 45'and in which is .positioned a helical coil spring 48. The 'spring 4B is held under compression between a pair of .abutment members 49, 50. The labutment member 49 is positioned against the vdiaphragm 45 and the abutment member 50 is held in an adjustably xed positioned by means of an adjusting screw I which is screw-threaded through the lower end wall of the cap member 4 andhas a conical end portion, projecting into the chamber 41 and into'a recess 52 ofthe abutment member 50. A llocking nut 53 may be screw-threaded to the adjusting screw' 5I and may be' turned tightly against the end wall of the lower cap member 4 to prevent unwanted-rotation of the screw 5l.

The abutment member49 .is held in xed position relative to the diaphragm45 by an abutment member 54 which has a downwardly extending portion 55 of reduced diameter. The portion 55 passes through a central aperture in the diaphragm 45 and also through central aperture in annular 'flange 56 which is concentric with thebore i3 and the outwardly tapered portion I5 and receives a. diaphragm 51 which is preferably made of neoprene or like substance. The lower .tace of the diaphragme seats against an annular shoulder 58 which surrounds the tapered portion l5 and the diaphragm 51 acts to close the open upper end of the bore I3. A closure membei' 29 has a peripheral portion seating against the upper race of the diaphragm 51 While the central portion of the member 59 is recessed, as at du, to form a small chamber SI overlying the diaphragm 51. The peripheral edge portion of the closure member 59 substantially fits the inside of the annular flange 56 and the lower perlpheral edge portion of member 59 is out away to form an annular ring 52 so that when the annular ange 5t is rolled and the closure member 5i? is pushed downward tightly against the periphery or diaphragm 51 a portion of the diaphragm is forced into the ring t2 to insure a fluid-tight seal between the diaphragm 51 and each of the members 3 and 5S.. 1

The closure member 59 has a central aperture therethrough in which is sealed one end o a capillary tube 53. The tube 63 has its other end sealed to a bulb means S4 and acts to communicatively connect the bulb means 64 to the cham- -ber Bl to form a sealed interconnected system 55. The bulb means $4 contains a compressed eXpansible-contractible compressed pellet 66 preferably comprising a rubber-like binder carrying a fusible crystalline material and a nely divided metal heat conductor, such for example as is disclosed in. the copending application of Sergius Vernet, S. No. 148,658, led June 17, 1937, for Temperature responsive elements and method of making same, now Patent No. 2,259,846, October 21, 1941. The remainder of the system is illled with distilled water through the filler tube 5l which is then sealed. Upon increase in temperature of the bulb means 64 to a predetermined temperature, the pellet 66 will increase in size, due to the fusion of the crystalline material, and

las the system 65 is filled with distilled water, the

diaphragm 51 will be moved downwardly into the tapered portion I5 of bore I3 to engage the upper end portion of the valve stem portion 33 and upon continued vexpansion noi the pellet '68 the valve member 34 will be moved to open tending passageways `29 through the space bethe abutment member 49. The shoulder, formed at the intersectionV of the normal diameter portion bf member 54 and its reduced diameter portion 55, seats Aagainst the diaphragm 45. The members 54- and 49 are clamped tightly, one on each side of the diaphragm, as by peening the portion 55. vThe upper end wall of the member 54 is recessed to receive and guide the lower' end tween the walls of bore I3 and the reduced diameter portion of the valve stern portion 33. To prevent any particles which might separate themselves from the-pellet 66 from entering the capillary tube 63, a iine mesh screen 68 is placed within the bulb means 64 so that any fluid owing therefrom into the tube 63 must of necessity pass through the screen 68,. Y

As shown in Fig. 2, the bulb means B4 islpositioned in heat exchange relationwiththe outlet,

conduit B5 of a refrigerating compressor 'l0 and the inlet port 24 is connected to Athe water outlet 1 1I of a Water cooled vcondenser 12. The outlet porti22 is connected by means of a conduit 13 to a sewer or other means of disposingof the condenser waste water.

The operation of the valve means I is',as fol` lows: Upon starting of the compressor 10, hot

v refrigerant vapor will be discharged through they position to allow ow of fluid from the radially ex- .waste of condenser water.

outlet conduit 69 into the condenser 12. As the 64 increases. Substantially at a given predetermined temperature of bulb means 64, the pellet 66 fuses and the diaphragm 51 is forced down-A ward to open the valve member 34 against the force of the spring 31. will be open. and condenserwaste Water will flow from the inlet port 24, through passageway 21, recess 28, passageways 29, bore I3, inlet port 3|, chamber 32, outlet portL 32El into the interior of bore portion 6 and against the diaphragm 45, through an orice 26, outlet port 22 and conduit 'i3 to the sewer. The orifice 26 forms a restriction to flow of the waste water and the pressure soon builds up within the bore portion 6 and against the diaphragm 45 to the predetermined pressure at which spring 48 is set to allow the diaphragm 45 to move downward so that the spring 37 can move the valve member 38 to a partially closed position such that the ow through the outlet port 32a is just sufficient to maintain the pressure within bore portion 6 and against the diaphragm l5 at the said predetermined pressure, which pressure is determined by the setting of the adjustment screw l. The predetermined pressure is set at a value which is determined by the averagetemperature of the entering cooling water and the capacity of the compressor 70 so that when the compressor l@ is operating the ow of cooling water is sulcient to maintain the temperature of the condensing refrigerant in the condenser 'l2 at a safe temperature somewhat below the temperaturenecessary to cause the bulb means 64 to open the valve member'34 to iiuid flow. This is true because the high pressure vapor is discharged in a superheated state from the compressor 'l0 and is at condenser 12. at which the bulb means 64 will open the valve means l to flow, is preferably above any ex-v pected ambient temperature so that the valve member 34 will not remain in open position due to ambient temperature alone with a consequent To decrease th'e time lag between stopping of the operation of the compressor 10 andclosing of the valve member 34 by the bulb means 64, the bulb means 64 may be clamped closely adjacent the outlet ll.

It may now be seen that by,means of the proper adjustment of the valve means I, the iiow of the cooling water may be kept at a minimum for economy during compressor operation and may be started and stopped in accordance with the starting'and stopping of the compressor 10 so that condenser .water flows solely when the condenser 12 requires cooling. The valve means l, it may also be seen, is a compact, positively operating apparatus which is simple of manufacture and-economical to make in production quantities. Because all of the mechanism is housed in one body, it is necessary merely to connect one valve structure into the cooling water line.. This decreases the cost of installation and decreases the number of items which must be carried by dealers and repair men.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described. a casing having a chamber and having a passage,- Way with one end opening externally of said casing and another end opening through one end Wall of said chamben'said chamber wall The valve member 38- opening forming al valve port, a rst valve member positioned within said chamber and cooperable with said port to control flow of duid itherethrough, .a transverse partition in said chamber intermediate said chamber end Wall and the other end of said chamber and having an aperture therethrough forming a valve port, a second valve member positioned within said chamber intermediate said partition and said chamber end wall and cooperable with said last-named port for controlling flow of fluid therethrough, said casing having a second passageway with one end opening externally of said casing and another end opening into said chamber intermediate said partition and said chamber `other end, a spring positioned within said chamber intermediate said partition andsaid chamber end wall and having one end portion abutting said first valve member and having its other end portion abutting said second valve member and acting to urge said valve members relative to their respective valve ports, temperature responsive means having positive force transmitting connection with said :first valve member and acting upon increase in temperature to force said rst valve member toward open position, and pressure responsive means acting on said second valve member and acting to maintain substantially constant the pressure of the fluid entering said last-named passageway.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having a chamber and having a passageway ber end wall and cooperable with said lastnamed port for controlling flow of uid therethrough, said casing having a second passageway with one end opening externally of said casing and another end opening into said chamber intermediate said partition and said chamberother end, a spring positioned within said chamber intermediate said partition and said chamber end wall and having one end portion abutting said rst valve member and having its other end portion abutting said second valve member and acting to urge said valve members relative to their respective ports, temperature responsive means having positive force transmitting connection with said first valve member and acting upon increase in temperature to force said rst valve member toward open position, a restricting flow orifice in said last-named passageway operable to cau's'e av build-up of uid pressure in said chamber intermediate said partition and said chamber other end, and pressure`l responsive means acting on said second valve member and of larger diameter than said normal diameter and screw-threaded, a cap member having a screw-threaded projecting portion for threaded engagement with said passageway threaded portion, said cap member having an aperturey therethrough concentric with' said passageway,A

said cap member aperture having. a portion of reduced diameter relative to the normal diameter of said passageway and having a portion of equal diameter to that of said passageway, said equal diameter aperture portion opening into said passageway, the opening of' said reduced diameter aperture portion into said equal diameter portion forming an inlet port, said casing having an outlet passageway leading from said central passageway intermediate said transverse wall and said central passageway one end, said casing and said cap member having an inlet passageway leading from an external surface of said casing .and opening into said reduced diameter aperture portion, a power element having a flexible diaphragm secured to and sealing the end of said cap member aperture opposite said cap member aperture equal diameter portion, a first valve member positioned within said equal diameteraperture portion and cooperable with said inlet port to control the flow of fluid to said central passageway, said valve member larger diameter and opening through an end wall of said casing adjacent said passageway other end and opening into said passageway other. end, a second annular packing member seated against said casing end wall and concentric with said casing aperture, said cap member having adjacent its screw-threaded portion a first seating surface and having a second seating surface,

.said cap member acting upon being screwiii threaded lto said casing to compress said rst packing member intermediate said casing shoulder and said rst seating surface and to compress said second packing member intermediate said casing end wall and said second seating surface,

said cap member cooperating with said casingv partition and said cap member and cooperable having a stem portion extendinginto and guided in said cap member reduced diameter aperture portion, said diaphragm being operable to engage the end surfacelof said stem portion so that said valve member is forced to an open position -for ow of fluid through said inlet port, a second vvalve member positioned in said central passageway intermediatel said partitionand said cap member and cooperable with said outlet port to control ow of fluid therethrough and havingA a stem portion extending through s'aid partition, pressure sensitive means secured .to said casing and sealing said central passageway one end, said pressure sensitive means being engageable with saidsecond valve member stem portion for moving said second valve member `relative to said outlet port for controlling flow of fluid therethrough and stressed means positioned within said central passageway and engageable with each of said Valve members for urging said valve members relative to their respective ports. 4. In a device of the character described, a casing having a central passageway of normal diameter, a transverse partition in said passageway adjacent to but spaced from one end of said passageway,l said partition having a central aperture ltherethrough forming an outlet port, the other end of said passageway being of larger diameter than said normal diameter and screwthreaded, a cap member having a screwthreaded projecting portion f or threaded .engagement with said passageway threaded portion, said cap member having an aperture therethrough concentric with said passageway, said cap member aperture having a portion'of rewith said outlet port to control iiow of uid therethrough, means carried by said casing and sealing said passageway one '-end, said lastnamed means being operatively connected to said second valve member for moving said second valve member relativeto said outlet port for controlling fiow of uid therethrough, and

, stressed means positioned within said central passageway and engageable with each of said valve members for urging said valve membersr relative to their respective ports.

5. In a device of the character described, a

valve casing having -apassageway therethrough including a valve port, avalve member positioned within said passageway and cooperable with said port for controlling flow of iiuid therethrough and having a stem portion extending through.

said port, said casing having an internally threaded annular flange concentric with said passageway and havinga pair of spaced seating surfaces concentric with said passageway, said passageway opening at one end into the central open portion of said annular ange, .a cup-shaped end member having at its open end a seating surface and having adjacent its open end an externally threaded portion for screw-threaded engagement to said flange, a diaphragm held adjacent itsbperiphery between one of said spaced "seating surfaces and said cup-shaped member duced diameter relative to said passageway normal diameter and having a'portion of equal diameter to said passageway normal diameter, said equal diameter aperture portion opening into said passageway, the `opening of said reduced Y diameter aperture portion into said equal diameter portionforming an inlet port, said .casing having a shoulder within said passageway intermediate said passageway screw-threads and saidv partition, van annular packing member seating against said shoulder, said casing having an aperture of greater diameter 'than said pxaissagewayl surface, a, plate-like abutment memberfpositioned on the cup-shaped member side of said diaphragm and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the other'of said spaced seating surfaces, an abutment member positioned against said diaphragm 'on the side of said diaphragm adjacent said port, said last-named member having a re cess facing said port, said recess having atapered portion leading to a cylindrical guide portion, said tapered portion having its greater diameter portion facing said port and beingof'greater diameter than thediameter of said port, said valve member stem portion being received within said recessand guided by said tapered portion into said cylindrical portion for engagement with the bottom wall of said recess, said diaphragm and said mst-named abutment member having aligned central apertures therethrough, said lastan outlet chamber, said partition having named abutment member having an extending portion extending through saidaligned central apertures, means securing together said abutment members and said diaphragm, means positioned within-said passageway forurging said valve member relative to said port, and means positioned within said cup-shaped endmember and acting through said abutment members for urging said valve member relative to said port, the movement of said diaphragm toward said port being limited by engagement'of said-.diaphragm with said other seating surface.

6. A regulating valve for controlling flow by temperature and by fluid back pressure, com.- prising a hollow open-ended casing, a Apartition in said casing and dividing said casing internally into a valve chamber and an outlet chamber, said partition having a port therethrough for flow from said valve chamber to said outlet chamber, a closure member for the open end of said valve chamber and having an .inlet port aligned with said partition port, oppositely directed conical inlet and outlet valve members in said valve chamber and cooperable with said ports, guide- Ameans on each of said valve members and cooperable with the wall of said valve chamber,

- a coil spring in said valve chamber and having '1. A regulating valve for controlling ow by v temperature and by fluid back pressure, coxnprising a hollow internally cylindrical open-ended casing, a partition in said casing and dividing said casing internally into `awalve chamber and a port therethrough for flow from said valve chamber to said outlet chamber, a closure member for the open end of said valve chamber and having an' inlet port aligned with said partition port, a hollow cylindrical extension on said closure member within said casing and forming an end portion of said 'valve chamber, oppositely directed conical inlet and outlet valve members in saidV valve chamber and coopera'ble with said ports,

guide means on each of said valve members and cooperable with the wall of said valve chamber, the guide means on said inlet valve member being positioned Within said extension, a coli Spring in said valve chamber and having its opposite ends engaging and urging said valve members in opposite directions and toward closed position,

ing a. conduit therethrough, a closure member for one end of said casing, a hollow internally cylindrical extension on said member and positioned 'within said casing, said closure member having a I passageway therethrough concentric with said extension and forming a part, of said conduit, a valve member within said' extension and controlling discharge from said passageway, a stem on said valve member and extending into said passageway, guide means on said stem and fittingl said passageway, a thermally actuated diaphragm' closing the outer end of said passageway and engageable with said guide means to actuate said valve member, and a guide member on said valve member and tting within said extension.

, Y fEARNEST J. DILLMAN. 

